Greek ferry operator ANEK Lines has joined the ranks of beachgoers fed up with finding their sand and seas full of discarded cigarette butts.
In an effort to wipe out the scourge of used cigarettes that end up on the beaches and in the waters of its home island of Crete, ANEK is distributing 200,000 disposable ashtrays onboard its ferries and on the island’s popular beaches.
The cone-shaped ashtrays, made from recycled materials, are designed to stick in the sand so they won’t get blown away.
The initiative is being conducted in conjunction with the Cretan Aquarium.
According to ANEK, Greek smokers, along with tourists, produce 22 billion butts per year, many of which end up in the sea.
Cigarette butts are the most common type of litter on Earth and are the most common item retrieved by clean-up activities in public areas such as beaches.
Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic that takes up to 10 years to degrade. The butts also contain highly concentrated levels of toxins that poison fish, seabirds and ultimately humans.
